Golf Club Grip and Method of Using Same

ABSTRACT

An improved golf club grip having indicators which provide hand positioning indications to the golfer so that he or she may properly position his or her hands on the grip to assist in making a desired shot more precise and more consistent. Also, a method of using the improved golf club grip in conjunction with a series of guideline grids.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a golf club grip and to a method of using same.

BACKGROUND

Golf club grips are configured in a variety of geometries in an attempt to provide a comfortable grip which assists the user in engaging the golf club and moving the golf club in such a manner so as to strike and direct a golf ball in an intended and correct fashion. In particular, it is critically important that the user correctly positions his or her hands on the golf club grip as this has a direct impact on the resulting distance and trajectory of the golf ball. It is generally believed that such ability to properly position one's hands leads to the enhancement of a particular user's skill level in playing golf. However, many golfers find it difficult to remember how to properly position their hands on their golf club grip so as to obtain a desired shot and thus play a consistent game of golf.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an improved golf club grip having indicators which provide hand positioning indications to the golfer so that he or she may properly position his or her hands on the grip to assist in making a desired shot more precise and more consistent.

The present invention further relates to a method of using the improved golf club grip in conjunction with a series of guideline grids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limitative illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the golf club grip according to a non-limitative illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a golf club provided with the golf club grip of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the placement of the golf club grip of FIG. 1 on a golf club.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally stated, a golf club grip according to a non-limitative illustrative embodiment of the present invention provide a golf club grip for golfers of all calibers; from amateur to professional. Its principle function is to make griping the golf club easier, maximizing the distance, the trajectory and the distance control of golf shots by providing griping indicators. The griping indicators provide positioning indications to the golfer so that he or she may properly position his or her hands on the grip to effectuate a desired shot. To this end, a method of use of the golf club grip is also disclosed so as to help the golfer in properly positioning his or her hands on the golf club grip.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a detailed view of a non-limitative illustrative embodiment of the golf club grip 20. The golf club grip 20 comprises five (5) longitudinal indicators, here in the form of lines 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 with respective identifiers 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 (in this example letters A, B, C, D and E, respectively) and six (6) transversal indicators, here in the form of lines 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 with respective identifiers 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 (in this example digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively). It is to be understood that, although lines are used as the longitudinal 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and transversal 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 indicators, other types of indicators may be used as well. It is also to be understood that only longitudinal 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or only transversal 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 indicators may be used.

Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and/or transversal 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 lines may further be identified/distinguished by using colors, or the colors may replace the identifiers altogether, for example longitudinal lines 41, 42 may be colored green, longitudinal line 43 may be colored white, longitudinal lines 44, 45 may be colored red and transversal lines 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 may be colored orange. It is to be understood that various identifiers may be used to identify the longitudinal 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and transversal 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 lines such as, for example, alphanumeric characters, symbols, textures, colors, embossing, different materials, etc., and that such identifiers may be placed in other locations than those shown in the illustrative embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an example a typical golf club 10, having a shaft 12 and a head 14, which has been provided with the golf club grip 20. In this example, the golf club 10 illustrated is an iron (as seen by the shape of the head 14). However, it is to be understood that the golf club grip 20 may be provided with or applied to any type of golf club such as, for example, drivers, woods, irons, wedges (pitching (pw), gap (gw), sand (sw), lobe (lw)) or putters, made of whatever type of material.

The golf club grip 20 may be provided pre-installed on a golf club, or it may be provided on its own to be used as a replacement grip and placed over the shaft 12 of a golf club whose grip has been removed, as illustrated in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that the golf club grip 20 may be provided pre-installed on a complete set of golf clubs or provided in a set of, for example, 15 grips, one for each type of club, to be installed by the user on an existing set of golf clubs. Furthermore, the golf club grip 20 may be designed so as to be applicable to any size of club, for example ladies so-called “56” core, men's so-called “58” core, men's oversize so-called “60” core, etc.

The golf club grip 20 may be made of, for example, rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polysulfide rubber (PTR), leather, etc.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the longitudinal lines 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 are indicative of the angle at which the golf club is being held. In the illustrative embodiment lines 31 and 35 are indicative of a 45 degree angle (open grip and closed grip, respectively), lines 32 and 34 are indicative of a 20 degree angle (open grip and closed grip, respectively) and line 33 is the neutral or 0 degree angle. In order to obtain a desired trajectory, lateral effect and distance, the golfer grips the golf club grip 20 so as to align his or her thumbs with the longitudinal line corresponding to the required inclination of the golf club 10. In other words, longitudinal lines 31 and 32 are generally used to produce lateral shots towards the left, longitudinal line 33 for straight shots and longitudinal lines 34 and 35 for lateral shots towards the right. It is to be understood that the angles represented by the longitudinal lines may be different than those specified above and that the number of longitudinal lines may vary depending on the number of desired angles.

As for the transversal lines 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56, they are indicative of the amount of grip choke which has an effect on the distance and trajectory of a golf shot. In the illustrative embodiment the transversal lines 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 are spaced 1 inch (approximately 2.5 cm) apart from each other but it is to be understood that the number of transversal lines as well as their spacing may vary depending on the desired precision of the grip choke.

Guideline Grids

Table 1 shows a fillable guideline grid that may be used in conjunction with the golf club grip 20 in order to allow the golfer to register the distance and trajectory of the golf ball according to the golf club used and precise positioning of his or her hands on the golf club grip 20 as indicated by the longitudinal A, B, C, D, E and transversal 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 identifiers. Thus, one such table is used for each golf club, identified by the field CLUB. For a given golf club, the observed deflection for each longitudinal line A, B, C, D and E is recorded in corresponding cells identified as defA, defB, defC, defD and defE in Table 1, respectively. Furthermore, distances obtained for each combination of longitudinal line A, B, C, D, E and transversal lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are recorded in cells distA1 to distE6.

TABLE 1 Fillable guideline grid CLUB A B C D E deflection defA defB defC defD defE 1 distA1 distB1 distC1 distD1 distE1 2 distA2 distB2 distC2 distD2 distE2 3 distA3 distB3 distC3 distD3 distE3 4 distA4 distB4 distC4 distD4 distE4 5 distA5 distB5 distC5 distD5 distE5 6 distA6 distB6 distC6 distD6 distE6

Once a grid has been completed for each golf club, the golfer may then use the completed grids to choose the most appropriate golf club and determine the positioning of his or her hands on that golf club grip 20 to obtain a desired shot distance and trajectory.

Table 2 shows a computed guideline grid that may be used in conjunction with the golf club grip 20. Unlike the fillable guideline grid of Table 1, the golfer only registers, for each golf club, the distance obtained for each combination of longitudinal line C (straight shot) and transversal lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, which are recorded in cells distC1 to distC6. The deflection for each longitudinal line A, B, C, D and E is arbitrarily set to 30, 10, 0, 10 and 30, respectively. As for the distances CdistA1 to CdistE6, these are computed using, for example, the following equations:

CdistAi=distCi×0.90;  Equation 1

CdistBi=distCi×0.95;  Equation 2

CdistDi=distCi/0.90;  Equation 3

CdistEi=distCi/0.95;  Equation 4

-   -   where i=1 to 6 (longitudinal lines).

Equations 1, 2, 3 and 4 may be solved by the Golfer using, for example, a calculator or the computed guideline grid may be implemented using, for example, an Excel™ spread sheet or any similar software or programming language.

It is to be understood that other deflection values may be used or that they may also be estimated by equations. Furthermore, Equations 1, 2, 3 and 4 are given as examples only, other equations may be defined which may take into account the type of club, brand of club, weight of club, material used for the club head, gender and size of the golfer, etc.

TABLE 2 Computed guideline grid CLUB A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 CdistA1 CdistB1 distC1 CdistD1 CdistE1 2 CdistA2 CdistB2 distC2 CdistD2 CdistE2 3 CdistA3 CdistB3 distC3 CdistD3 CdistE3 4 CdistA4 CdistB4 distC4 CdistD4 CdistE4 5 CdistA5 CdistB5 distC5 CdistD5 CdistE5 6 CdistA6 CdistB6 distC6 CdistD6 CdistE6

Tables 3a to 3p show examples of pre-defined guideline grids that may be used in conjunction with the golf club grip 20. It is to be understood that the values are given as examples only and may be used as guidelines for an average size male, other values may be given which may take into account the type of club, brand of club, weight of club, material used for the club head, gender and size of the golfer, etc.

TABLE 3a Pre-defined guideline grid (driver) Driver A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 234 247 260 289 274 2 225 238 250 278 263 3 216 228 240 267 253 4 207 219 230 256 242 5 198 209 220 244 232 6 189 200 210 233 221

TABLE 3b Pre-defined guideline grid (3 wood) 3 wood A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 216 228 240 267 253 2 207 219 230 256 242 3 198 209 220 244 232 4 189 200 210 233 221 5 180 190 200 222 211 6 171 181 190 211 200

TABLE 3c Pre-defined guideline grid (5 wood) 5 wood A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 198 209 220 244 232 2 189 200 210 233 221 3 180 190 200 222 211 4 171 181 190 211 200 5 162 171 180 200 189 6 153 162 170 189 179

TABLE 3d Pre-defined guideline grid (7 wood) 7 wood A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 180 190 200 222 211 2 171 181 190 211 200 3 162 171 180 200 189 4 153 162 170 189 179 5 144 152 160 178 168 6 135 143 150 167 158

TABLE 3e Pre-defined guideline grid (2 iron) 2 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 189 200 210 233 221 2 180 190 200 222 211 3 171 181 190 211 200 4 162 171 180 200 189 5 153 162 170 189 179 6 144 152 160 178 168

TABLE 3f Pre-defined guideline grid (3 iron) 3 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 180 190 200 222 211 2 171 181 190 211 200 3 162 171 180 200 189 4 153 162 170 189 179 5 144 152 160 178 168 6 135 143 150 167 158

TABLE 3g Pre-defined guideline grid (4 iron) 4 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 171 162 190 211 200 2 162 171 180 200 189 3 153 162 170 189 179 4 144 152 160 178 168 5 135 143 150 167 158 6 126 133 140 156 147

TABLE 3h Pre-defined guideline grid (5 iron) 5 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 162 171 180 200 189 2 153 162 170 189 179 3 144 152 160 178 168 4 135 143 150 167 158 5 126 133 140 156 147 6 117 124 130 144 137

TABLE 3i Pre-defined guideline grid (6 iron) 6 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 153 162 170 189 179 2 144 152 160 178 168 3 135 143 150 167 158 4 126 133 140 156 147 5 117 124 130 144 137 6 108 114 120 133 126

TABLE 3j Pre-defined guideline grid (7 iron) 7 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 144 152 160 178 168 2 135 143 150 167 158 3 126 133 140 156 147 4 117 124 130 144 137 5 108 114 120 133 126 6 99 105 110 122 116

TABLE 3k Pre-defined guideline grid (8 iron) 8 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 135 143 150 167 158 2 126 133 140 156 147 3 117 124 130 144 137 4 108 114 120 133 126 5 99 105 110 122 116 6 90 95 100 111 105

TABLE 3l Pre-defined guideline grid (9 iron) 9 iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 126 133 140 156 147 2 117 124 130 144 137 3 108 114 120 133 126 4 99 105 110 122 116 5 90 95 100 111 105 6 81 86 90 100 95

TABLE 3m Pre-defined guideline grid (pw iron) pw iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 117 124 130 144 137 2 108 114 120 133 126 3 99 105 110 122 116 4 90 95 100 111 105 5 81 86 90 100 95 6 72 76 80 89 84

TABLE 3n Pre-defined guideline grid (gw iron) gw iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 104 109 115 128 121 2 95 100 105 117 111 3 86 90 95 106 100 4 77 81 85 94 89 5 68 71 75 83 79 6 59 62 65 72 68

TABLE 3o Pre-defined guideline grid (sw iron) sw iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 90 95 100 111 105 2 81 86 90 100 95 3 72 76 80 89 84 4 63 67 70 78 74 5 54 57 60 67 63 6 45 48 50 56 53

TABLE 3p Pre-defined guideline grid (lw iron) lw iron A B C D E deflection 30 10 0 10 30 1 63 67 70 78 74 2 54 57 60 67 63 3 45 48 50 56 53 4 36 38 40 44 42 5 27 29 30 33 32 6 18 19 20 22 21

Instructions for the use of the golf club grip 20 and/or grids, as well as the grids themselves may be provided in a printed format or, for example, on a CD or DVD. The CD or DVD may also provide video instructions on how to use the golf club grip 20 and/or grids, and may also provide software for the calculation of the grids.

It is to be understood that the grids are provided solely as a complement to the golf club grip 20 which may be used as well with or without the grids.

Although the present invention has been described by way of a non-limitative illustrative embodiment and example thereof, it should be noted that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications may be applied to the illustrative embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A golf club grip to be positioned on a golf club, comprising at least one hand positioning indicator.
 2. A golf club grip according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hand positioning indicator includes at least one longitudinal indicator and at least one transversal indicator.
 3. A golf club grip according to claim 2, wherein the at least one longitudinal indicator is indicative of the angle at which the golf club is held and the at least one transversal indicator is indicative of the amount of grip choke.
 4. A golf club grip according to claim 3, wherein the at least one longitudinal indicator and at least one transversal indicator are lines.
 5. A golf club grip according to claim 3, further comprising longitudinal identifiers associated with each of the at least one longitudinal indicator.
 6. A golf club grip according to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal identifiers are selected from a group consisting of alphanumeric characters, symbols, textures, colors, embossing and a material different than that of a remainder of the golf grip.
 7. A golf club grip according to claim 3, further comprising transversal identifiers associated with each of the at least one transversal indicator.
 8. A golf club grip according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal identifiers are selected from a group consisting of alphanumeric characters, symbols, textures, colors, embossing and a material different than that of the golf grip.
 9. A golf club grip according to claim 3, further comprising longitudinal identifiers associated with each of the at least one longitudinal indicator and transversal identifiers associated with each of the at least one transversal indicator.
 10. A golf club grip according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal and transversal identifiers are selected from a group consisting of alphanumeric characters, symbols, textures, colors, embossing and a material different than that of a remainder of the golf grip.
 11. A golf club grip according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hand positioning indicator includes at least one longitudinal indicator.
 12. A golf club grip according to claim 11, wherein the at least one longitudinal indicator is indicative of the angle at which the golf club is held.
 13. A golf club grip according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hand positioning indicator includes at least one transversal indicator.
 14. A golf club grip according to claim 13, wherein the at least one transversal indicator is indicative of the amount of grip choke.
 15. A golf club grip kit, comprising: at least one golf club grip according to claim 9; and at least one guideline grid.
 16. A golf club grip kit according to claim 11, wherein the at least one guideline grid includes guidelines for at least one type of golf club.
 17. A golf club grip kit according to claim 16, wherein the at least one type of golf club is selected from a group consisting of a driver, a wood, an iron, a wedge and a putter.
 18. A golf club grip kit according to claim 16, wherein the guidelines relate at least one distance and at least one trajectory with associated longitudinal and transversal identifiers.
 19. A golf club grip kit according to claim 18, wherein the guidelines further relate to a type of golf club. 